Salihu Mohammed Lukman, a key figure in the ongoing coalition talks among opposition leaders, has revealed that negotiations on the political party that will serve as the coalition’s platform for the 2027 elections are nearing completion.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in response to a question regarding the emergency rule declaration in Rivers State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar confirmed that the opposition leaders have formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. This statement has since sparked national debate and speculation.
But clarifying the situation on Monday, Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasised that while consultations were at an advanced stage, no final decisions had been made.
Lukman, who recently dumped the ruling party and has been in the vanguard of the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders, assured that once the negotiations were concluded, a formal announcement would be made detailing the coalition’s membership, programme of action, and framework for contesting the 2027 elections.
“At this stage of negotiations, the main focus is around getting leaders to agree to work together and substantially there is strong recognition that prospective members should set aside personal ambitions to contest the 2027 elections,” Lukman said.
He noted that two key issues dominated the negotiations: uniting opposition leaders behind a common cause and determining the political party through which the coalition would field candidates. He dismissed media reports suggesting disagreements were stalling talks, stating that no formal discussions had yet taken place on zoning arrangements.
“The concensus among leaders is that the final decision about processes of candidates’ selection can only be handled and determined when there is agreement regarding the political party on whose platform the coalition will field candidates,” he added.
Lukman described finalising the party platform as the coalition’s biggest challenge, with some members attempting to register new political parties. However, he accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating such efforts, alleging that applications were being deliberately blocked.
“To make matters worse, many of the existing registered parties who did not meet the electoral threshold of winning any seat in the last general elections face the threat of deregistration. Given this unpleasant reality, members of the coalition opened negotiations with some of the existing parties that have met the electoral threshold,” he said.
Lukman further claimed that some of these existing parties were being destabilised, similar to the internal crises seen in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). He suggested that these challenges were part of a broader strategy to prevent any viable opposition from emerging ahead of 2027.
“It is almost a clear case of destroying the legal basis for any party to qualify to field candidates for 2027 other than the ruling APC,” he said.
Expressing concern over what he described as a shrinking democratic space, Lukman criticised the APC-led government, arguing that such political manoeuvres were unexpected under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, given his history as a pro-democracy advocate.
“The way the Nigerian democratic space is rapidly shrunken can only be imagined under a military government,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Lukman reassured Nigerians that the coalition’s leadership remained committed to safeguarding democracy. He urged all Nigerians, including members of the judiciary, to resist attempts to undermine democratic principles.
“The leaders of the coalition are committed to providing the needed leadership to rescue Nigerian democracy.
“Difficult as the situation would appear, the negotiation about the political party that will be the platform for the 2027 electoral contest is about to be concluded. All the attempt to push Nigeria into a one-party state will be defeated. Once the negotiation about political party is concluded, Nigerians will be formally informed of all the details, and mobilisation towards 2027 will commence,” he stated.
Lukman concluded by stressing that the coalition’s priority was not just fielding candidates but ensuring that elected leaders at all levels were accountable and committed to democratic governance. He called on all patriotic Nigerians to support the coalition’s efforts in what he described as a difficult but necessary struggle to prevent a one-party state.
